Friday nights liver towelling (slash gig) in Syndey was of such an impressive magnitude – I figured it needs to be documented.

Friday August 12

1:30am – Still at the Governor Hindmarsh after the Children Collide gig... notable “check-ins” include Woody Annison, Johnny McKay, Simon and Shane (DZ Deathrays), and all but one of the Shiny Brights. Also - each and every member of Hunting Grounds are available right now, via telephone...at the same time....on six different cellular telephones.....Yeah, its getting pretty OSLO-circa-a-month-ago right now....people are smoking wherever they want, and people that didn’t already know Woody are immediately shocked and appalled by being pigeon-holed as “Racist”, before having actually met the guy. Fuck being a wiener at Woody’s school, in South London, in the eighties.....

2:00am – Red Wine glasses brimmed with Smirnoff and a DASH of red bull are being issued amongst the remaining team. I can’t stress “Dash” enough either, each sip was like a Chuck Norris knee to the bollocks. Yet the beverages on offer are consumed only in a boat race fashion – a notion that was forcefully peer-pressured towards anyone in ear-shot - Security guards and performers alike.

It’s at about this point that I notice the time, curse maliciously in rego’s ear and realise I’m due at work six hours. At this juncture I exit the premises. Later I catch wind of certain members of The Shiny Brights having to blow off some steam, by walking home from Hindmarsh – leaving little presents from within along the way....like an Easter-egg hunt.

7:45am – Buns’s alarm sounds for work. He smashes his alarm clock several times with a nearby shoe, before realising the alarm was actually set on his phone, not his bedside alarm clock. His phone is on the nearby bathroom floor. Cheers.

9:00am: Buns punches himself in the testies FIFTY times...I mean “goes to work”.

1:05pm: Le Shiny Brights board a plane to SYDNEY.

4:00pm: Sound check/ load-in at the Gaelic followed by the prompt purchase of overpriced beer. In Bulk.

5:00 pm: Beers/filthy jokes/anti-histamines at Karen’s.

7:00pm: The banta moves to The Strawberry Hills Hotel, for French fries/filthy jokes/beer

8:30pm: The Sunny Days/RadioStar/no-one-is-really-sure open at the Gaelic

9:20 pm: TSB perform as a Banjo quintet with a Bolivian pipes player. They are well received.

10:00pm: Chris “Bondi-vet” Plummer manages 4 little piggy’s on his back simultaneously – much to the amazement of two Peruvian back-packers, and nearby chiropractors.

10:15pm: Tales in Space from Syndey perform, to a capacity audience and a lighting show that is not for the feint hearted. If I was a chic – I’d have my titties out at this point. I did anyway.

11:15:pm The Cairos from Brizzzvegas (fuck off anyone who has EVER used that term seriously) take the stage to a chorus of extremely drunk scenesters/babes/Adelaide bands....

12:30am: Proceedings move to Oxford Arts Factory.

1:00am: People are that sort of drunk where they pretend to hump attractive chics that squeeze past while they aren’t looking. I am guilty of this.

2:00am: Headcount?
Clancy Bennett - present
Buns - .......yeah...ish
Chris- sort of
Rego – maybe by a thread
Paul – not really present
The Sunny Days/RadioStar/not sure – ...heeeere.

(THIS IS MY FAVOURITE)

2:30am: Looking around, clearly all previous inhibitions have gone out the window, most people are attempting their CLEAN Usher moves – genuinely convinced that they are nailing them. Most of us have tangoed with other anonymous female inebriates – to no avail, for obvious reasons.

3:00am: people are talking reeeeeaaal slow now. Sentences riddled with hiccups. hugging – everywhere. Rego is sleeping on his feet, on the dance floor, with a beer. Numbers are thinning in the venue...

4:00am: Hungry Jacks, Oxford Street.
Chris has already “claimed” his second unwarranted burger , just doing casual laps back-and-forth from the counter, claiming he is waiting on assorted menu items. .......Now he is bellowing at the top of his lungs – we are still racking our brains as to why?? (An upcoming blog video will explain this better)

YEEEEEEAH...

5:00am: Arrive at Karrots criiiib. Me and Chris sleep in one another’s arms, on the floor. Rego takes ownership of the couch. All fully clothed, with food.

6:00am: Lights out.

8:30am: Alarm. Shit. Fuck. Alarm. Clothes? Belongings? Dignity? Health? Alarm. Vom. Cab. Airport. Flight. Shit. Fuck. Bollocks. Sleep.

Lengthy read huh? Sucked in.

Buns.

NEW SINGLE AVAILABLE ON TRIPLE J UNEARTHED

Handsome blog readers,

It is with great pleasure, two bananas, a beret and a pleasing posture that I salute the availability of our new single "BLUE TOES". The song, and two others were recorded and produced at Red Door studios in Collingwood by friend and industry veteran Paul "WOODY" Annison. After perspicacious pre-production and a week in the sprawling metro-sexuality of Red Door's egg chairs and collectable vending machines - we came out with three singles that we are extremely proud of. The guidance and knowledge of Woody and engineer Tyson worked wonders with the new brand of music we were writing - and hoping to conquer.

So while your scratching your crotch, trying to think of your next "witty" comment on your mates' girlfriend's iPhone-retro-application-photo of your Saturday night borry storm - Jump onto triple J unearthed and download the new tune, and have a good old fashion listening session. If you do then maybe a genie will saunter out of your speakers? and grant you three wishes? Yeah, it is ridiculous - but you will never know if you don't listen to it? and THAT my friends.....IS true. Up for it?
>CLICK HERE THEN!.

Some call me a philosopher, or..a..a pioneer. But you can just call me BUNS Wilson.

Always a pleasure.

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And as per usual, and for your ultimate convenience. Here are some visual aids.


WOODY at RED DOOR Studios, Melbourne

Kodak Moments

This week we had our first shiny photo shoot in over a year. Heading out from the wilderness with our new single this month, we thought the band's happy snaps might need a little bit of a makeover. Now you might think this is a pretty simple task. Get five guys get them all to look away from the camera and look very disinterested. Add them all pretending as if they don't even care that some mug is taking their photo, with matching leather jackets. You know the ones, if not i've posted an example below. And don't get me wrong we've done this too!

This time we wanted something a little bit different. When it comes to this side of the band i have about as much creativity as a Nickelback single so a lot of the genius was left to come from C 'the Plums' Plummer. As you will see in the next couple of weeks when they're all finished off, we've gone for some weird portrait style shots. Imagine this. One man, one frame, one hand. Now to create the vision of 'the Plums' on my pentax five megapixel would have been possible, but let's be honest they would've looked shit.

So we figured we needed a PRO. That's why the lovely snaps have been taken by our good friend Michael Clements (shameless promotion of his site here www.michaelclements.com.au). Michael is English... need i say more he's a top fellow with a delightful eye for how to capture the most delicate moment. Like when a leaf floats alone across a lake, or a plastic bag fighting in the wind. We on the other hand aren't so delicate. The entire shoot Alex "don't call me polish" Rajkowski was cracking suprisingly funny puns right at the pivotal moments of concentration. Another issue is that michael doesn't have any furniture in in house, he says it's because he just moved in, but can you trust the English, i don't think so. This meant five guys standing for two and half hours in a dimly lit room as another man took their photo. Just sounds creepy if you ask me.

So while our photos won't included wolf's leather underpants or one of chris' countless sweaters, they will at least be better than this....

NICKELBACK

DC TALK

LIPPY BUM BUM

And So it Begins....

Salutations,

Our tour for our new single "Blue Toes" kicks off this week. We're hitting the road with Radio Star, Tin Can Radio and Tales in Space, all premium bands. This means we'll be spending countless nights spooning together. Most likely I'll be shacking up with Buns "duckarse" Wilson. James will claim a bed to himself because he needs all that room.
Chris will no doubt go swimming again in his attempt to better his "swim in every shitty river ever" record (his landmark achievement so far is The Thames in London….after 35 ciders).

Wolfgang will probably hang his leather underpants that he secretly sleeps in from an unsuspecting balcony much to the amazment of passers by. He still maintains that the "tan lines" inside have always been there.

We're pumped for this tour as it means we're back on the road playing new songs that we're really happy about. If I could convert my happiness about these songs it would be the equivelant of a mango…the happiest of fruits, people love mangos, if they don't, they're not worth knowing.

Come out to some shows instead of watching Masterchef and Highway Patrol.

RADIOSTAR (VIC)

TALES IN SPACE (NSW)

DIGGIT??

It's that time again!

THINGS BUNS HAS BEEN ENJOYING, YAAAAAY! Top ten I hear you mutter?? Yeah, why not. It would be my pleasure.

TOP FIVE FOODS FOR BUNS RIGHT MEOW:

1. Subway Club Sandwich filling
2. Caramel Slice (home made, preferably a friends Mum)
3. Mince based meals (ALL)
4. Hommus
5. Quiche Lorraine

Music Too Buns? OK, ok - Music too (Top 5 of right now in no particular order):

1. Metronomy
2. Red Coats
3. Diesel Witch
4. The Pixies
5. Tales in Space

Top 5 people of Now Buns? Come one, quieten down guys, one at a time.

1. Anders Breivik (never too soon)
2. The girl with the braces from the SA quality Home improvements botch-job-tv-ad
3. Stevo's mate from the Natural Gas Heating Ad ("unlesssssss, you like ice-cream".....Do you like knuckle sandwich's? Also looks strikingly like Chrissy Poo Plummer)
4. David Letterman
5. Eric Moussambani Malonga, or "Eric The Eel" who did the Mens heat of the 100m freestyle in 1:52.72. Entered via a wildcard draw designed to encourage developing countries. Remember? Best thing I have ever seen on TV. Forget Cathy and Perkins - this put hairs on my chest.


....Top 5 Movies?

1. Sickle - look it up
2. Fight Club
3. Nacho Libre
4. BMX Bandits (with Nicole kidman, the one we all forgot about)
5. The Goonies


Top 5 Things you can wear?

1. A Broach
2. Beret
3. Cumabun
4. Monocle
5. Fez


It has been a pleasure. Until Next time - Take care of yourselves, and each other.

(Here are visuals for those of you that are too hung to accurately envisage things..)

Also....


Metronomy - The Look

Metronomy | Myspace Music Videos

Wash or Die

Today I went to the kitchen to wash my bowl. I can't say it's something I do too often as it's usually easier (uses less energy) to take the dirty bowl and fork, spoon or knife home with me to clean. Another reason for avoiding the walk to the kitchen is that it is all the way over on the other side of the office. So as you make your way there you have to make the typical office chit chat with whoever you may pass by. Comments such as 'Darryl, had a hair-cut i see' or 'Coffee time is it Sue' make it a rather awkward experience for everyone involved. Sometimes neither person can even muster a word and we give each another a nod or raise an eyebrow in appreciation that neither of us can really be bothered muttering a word to each other.

So anyway i'm going to the kitchen to wash my bowl. On the way I pass both Darryl and Sue, Darryl smiles and Sue says looking forward to the weekend. I reply with some sort of mildy funny response like 'yeh big one ahead i think'. Upon reaching the kitchen I realise a new sign has been posted above the sink. I have posted it below for you all to enjoy. For some reason i think i might avoid going to the kitchen from now on.

Schlishy.

Great minds...

Situation: a maintenance man walks into the office. He stands  5 metres away. Looking at the roof. It occurs to me immediately that he resembles Kenny.

Problem: how to communicate this to Watson so he can also enjoy noting the resemblance. Without Kenny lookalike hearing.

Solution:

‘Hey Watson’

Yeah

‘Grassy...without the ‘D’’

(Watson thinks for a couple of seconds, works it out, looks at Kenny lookalike, confirms he’s on it, nods appreciation, goes back to work like a BOSS!)

Explanation (for those without great minds):

1.       Grassy – short for Grassy Knoll

2.       Grassy Knoll – JF Kennedy’s shooter hit behind it (got it yet?)

3.       Kennedy – without the D.

4.       Do i need to spell this out any more?

To be completely honest, i was more than ecstatically impressed when he pulled that one off.

Dan Ryan
(Shiny Brights enthusiast and work colleague of Buns Wilson/Watson)

Did you pay your REGO?

And so another week has come to a close,

With Friday in an office environment comes the smell of the weekend, for some a "casual" Friday and for others the end of another cycle. For myself it means another round of Friday night "work drinks".

it would go without saying that the Friday night after work drink at an accountancy firm would be much different to that of an uber cool design firm where they all sit on bean bags and drink complementary green tea.
Interacting with your work colleagues  beyond the confines of an office environment can be both an enlightening and harrowing experience. It gives you an opportunity to see how those you spend the majority of your time with really are. I recently found out that the middle aged "Sting" fan who is the equivalent of an encyclopaedia of clip art, is also into hard trance (I mean HARDCORE trance, like, march into Poland trance).

It usually starts out with the first round of drinks, usually by management or a team leader. Everyone always orders the special, but you do sometimes get the odd wanker from head office who orders a whisky sour, just to be a jerk. You stand around awkwardly sipping on your drink talking about.......you guessed it....work. You discuss Dave from Collections and his awkward short sleeved shirt/tie combo, how Suzanne from Accounts legs rub together when she walks, you discuss everything about work that is somewhat entertaining to each of you till you run out. This is where the awkward shit happens.

You suddenly realise why the divorcee who sits opposite you is in fact divorced, why the eternal virgin from IT keeps to himself and why you yourself are with these people, Monday to Friday, 9-5. It's not the money, it's because everywhere you go, everyone a story.

The last two years of my life have been spent between juggling different jobs and touring with this band. I've been in cafes, bars, nightclubs, call centres, warehouses and even a job where my only purpose was to fold envelopes. The one thing I realised is that everywhere there are people who are just like those people we see in the movies. No matter how boring your job is, how routine your week is, as along as you have one thing to keep it interesting, you will be fine.

Next year I go back to uni to study, how I'll juggle that with the band I have no idea, but it will happen. My dream is to one day work in an office where Sharon's legs rub together, Dave's ties are ridiculous and more importantly, I'm ordering the whisky sours, just to keep things interesting.


Having said all of this, music being the main thing in my life, here are some links to some bands and artists that are really making me excited about making music. These last few months in camp Shiny have been awesome. We're pushing ourselves harder then before to expand our musical boundaries and the results are great. We hope to get these tunes out on the road in a few weeks in support of our next single, what that is I can't tell you yet!


The firmest of regards,

Alessandro Valdez Rajkowsk

Schlishy's Say

Hello!

If there's one thing us shiny's like it's a good film clip. In the next few weeks we will release our new single, and will need to create some video clip greatness of our own.
We already have some pretty crazy ideas but if you can think of something that might work feel free to let us know in the comment section below.

For now here's a couple i've been watching lately. You too should watch them.

It's been a bit of a weird month after finishing our new tracks and getting back into the swing of writing new tracks and trying to make them suit the sound we have created in the studio.  We've also gone back to everyday life which for me has been slow, but at the same time it does inspire me to write more songs. I think we learnt a lot in this last session of recording. In fact probably more than we have in the entire 4 years (wow that's gone quickly) the band has been together.

Now the question is how will these new things we've learnt impact on the next batch of songs we are writing. I feel we've definitely defined two different styles of songs that i hope we will follow into whatever our next release is, whether EP, album or just more singles. We've started work on a new track called Ghost Hand, which has been co-written by Ping Marwe. Nice, upbeat track that everyone should like to dance to.

We're hoping to get it up for this upcoming tour. There's also three other tracks, yet unnamed which could make their way into our new set, yes our set for this upcoming tour will be made up of at least 6 never before heard tracks, so make sure you get along to one.

At the same time, Buns and I have been working on another project, completely different from shiny's. It's been good, giving me a different perspective of how to write music, and what makes a band really work.